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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#73: My True Love Gave to Me

In years past, we’ve themed our seasonal prompts around a favorite Christmas movie… This year, we’re going to mix things up and base them off a Christmas song! And since this week’s contest runs through December 25th, what better song to pick than The 12 Days of Christmas?

 

If you need a little inspiration to get you in the holiday spirit, check out the Christmas and Holiday sections in our Stories directory to see what members of your community have come up with! With all these marvelously festive tales to choose from, we know you’ll find something to get you feeling jolly in no time.

 

And despite the Christmas origins, our prompts work for any holiday, so feel free to celebrate in a way that's true to you! We can't wait to see your character's traditions.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who is given a bird for the holidays but doesn’t know how to take care of it.

Holiday – 200 stories

Write about someone who gets proposed to five times on Christmas Eve.

Romance – 170 stories

Write about a drummer going to a Halloween party for musicians.

Halloween – 54 stories

Write about a young nobleman whose greatest wish is to become an Olympic long jumper.

Middle School – 20 stories

Write about a backup dancer who’s on tour and just wants some peace and quiet for the holidays.

Winter – 54 stories

Stories

“Dance the Christmas night away” by Katie May

Submitted to Contest #73

Its almost Christmas?! Goodness. It just feels like yesterday it was the first day of summer. I have grown in many ways, and also learned many things. I hope you enjoy 'Dance the Christmas night away'. "You ready Maya?" The producer asked, keeping her eyes glued on her clip board. I sighed and nodded. "Sorry?" She asked. "Yes, I'm ready. Sorry." I added, looking at myself in the mirror. I didn't look like me. My hair was yanked back in a bun, polished, and my face had a million pounds of makeup piled on. To complete the look, we had to we...

2 comments 2
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“The Devil's Punishment” by Akshaya Rajan Babu

Submitted to Contest #73

“I can’t believe he really did that. Seriously, what was he thinking? How could he…” I paused mid-sentence, because I just realized that I had been talking out loud, in the middle of a street, with people gawking at me as though I’m crazy.  Before you too come to the same conclusion, let me assure you that I’m, in fact, NOT crazy and I have valid reasons for my above mentioned behavior. First, let me introduce myself. I’m *insert drum-roll here* Lucifer Morningstar, Prince of Darkness, Son of Satan, The Devil himself! I can st...

53 comments 53
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“A Hummingbird's Hollow” by Svara Narasiah

Submitted to Contest #73

Today was biggest day of my life. I should have been excited, but I wasn't.. I was dreading what was to come. But today I learned a lesson: Never let anyone live your life for you. Let me tell you what happened: My grandfather, Old Squirrel Johnny, told me that dancing was the cure for sadness--but dancing was in his blood. He was the lead dancer of the Flying Squirrels, twisting and hopping and standing on his front legs. He didn't care about anything else except for his dancing--and me, of course. Although now I'm not so sure about tha...

5 comments 5
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“Bret The Drummer Man” by Daniel R. Hayes

Submitted to Contest #73

It was Christmas Eve, and The Wildcats were getting ready to put on their annual Christmas concert. Bret played the drums and he hated this time of year. Why did he hate Christmas you ask? Well, you see in previous concerts he had to play the solo drum part in the song Little Drummer Boy. It’s not that he was bad, but he was the best, he played that part so well it made him a local legend. Everywhere he went people complimented him on that performance, even in the middle of summer. He got so much attention that he never got a moment's rest. ...

2 comments 2
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“Mimi the Mynah Bird” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #73

“Mr Nugent’s eaten Mimi!” cries Rachel.Celine Heatherington bit her lip as her daughter charged into the sitting room.“I’m sure I closed the apartment door,” she says, catching her breath. “Slow down, Rachel.” “He must’ve skulked up the staircase behind me.”“You let Mimi out of the cage and…”“… Yes, just like you told me to,” she says. “I changed the water and…” “… It’s fine, take your time, poppet.”“I was on top of the wobbly stool fetching the pellet mix from the top shelf.”“Right, so you were in the kitchen?”“I heard a squa...

4 comments 4
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“Don’t Panic if I Catch Fire” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #73

Gregory frowned at the note attached to the bird’s cage. He shook his head and screwed his eyes shut. He opened them again.The note remained the same.Gregory looked around, even though he was the only person in the shop. He hoped — a fool’s hope — that Barbara hadn’t left at the end of her shift three-quarters of an hour ago. But, of course, she had.The man who’d dropped it off — it, that was the word he used, not he or she — had been rather strange. But, hey, who was he to judge? He was a 43-year-old man who co-ran a bird daycare shop with ...

3 comments 3
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“Exodus” by Philip Clayberg

Submitted to Contest #73

At each performance of the “Nutcracker” here in America, I have one of the best seats in the house: off stage at stage left. I get to watch the dancers float in from off stage and then back off stage again. I get to watch the prince and Clara as they sit in their throne-like carriage. I get to watch the different curtains rise and fall, slide across the stage and back again. I get to watch the lights above the stage change colors to match the mood of each scene. It is always magical and I never get bored of it. I think only performing back i...

71 comments 71
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“The Avocado Enemy” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #73

The house swarmed of turbulent chattering and elevated guests. Men raised their glasses with shimmering red wine, and women gossiped eagerly in the parlour. Mrs Hopp, a middle-aged woman, stood with the guests hesitantly, thanking everyone expectantly and clasping about a dozen gifts. "A very happy birthday to you, Kiera." a hoarse voice echoed into the vibrant blaring of the chattering of guests.Mrs Hopp looked up, astonished. She deposited the gleamingly wrapped presents near the Christmas tree. "Mia. It's been so long." she smiled wistful...

13 comments 13
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“The Other World” by Atenaga Monday

Submitted to Contest #73

THE OTHER WORLD Many don’t believe in the supernatural world where demons and angels have to battle for the soul of a human; it’s only natural to think but it become stupid to adjust your living all because of unforeseen mysteries beyond human comprehension. What if we can study to understand the true forces, we can only precise there are other world but the fact is can we be in control of that other world like we are on earth what if we become helpless and weakened when we can no longer bend things to our will, they say there is no wea...

15 comments 15
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“The Silver Swan” by Doug LeBlanc

Submitted to Contest #73

THE SILVER SWAN          Timmy was handicapped. He hated the term, but knew it applied to him. He had a wheelchair, and needed it. He was being schooled by a tutor, Jenson. He allowed Timmy to call him that, although everyone else had to call him Mr. Jarlson. To Timmy, he seemed cold and standoffish, and never open with the boy.           The seasons were changing, and Timmy hated it. He hated the cold of winter, and...

1 comment 1
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“Nature's Christmas” by Ruby 💫

Submitted to Contest #73

It was a rainy night. I could hear the raindrops hit the top of the house. Knowing that it’s almost Christmas .I’m hoping that this year is going to be the best one .I say that every year, but I got a feeling for this year. “Hayley”! My mom yelled. “Yeah”! I yelled back. “I got something to tell you,” She said. I rushed over to her, to say what’s up. “This year we are going to spend Christmas at your cousins house”! I looked at her confused, "but don’t all our cousins live in NYC”? “Yeah”! Mom said. We’re going there”. Then my confused face ...

9 comments 9
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“The Unconditional Love of Vineet and Megha” by Meera Anvar

Submitted to Contest #73

 "The Unconditional Love of Vineet and Megha".       SHORT STORYIt was a lovely morning. A strong breezy wind just crossed like a hell on her face, she was Megha a young charming girl walking beside the footpath. She was a mixed portion of innocence and more sensitive girl. Her father was a lovable and the caring person, but he never shows his immense love on her daughter. Her mother was not just like an ordinary mother but she was more than that like a good partner as wel...

3 comments 3
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“I Just Wanted Him To Be Quiet.” by Annette Lovewind

Submitted to Contest #73

“Five! Six! Seven! Eight!” The director yelled to the girls that were dancing in time with each other. “Stop! Stop!... Stop! You’re off the beat.” he yells, waving his hands, and points to me. “For the last time Cindy! You are offbeat by just a hair! It’s very noticeable!!”“Sir, with all due respect I am in the back..people are only focused on the actors and the front dancers. There never focused on the background. I don think me begin three seconds behind or barely behind will make a difference overall.” I say.The director death glares at m...

10 comments 10
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“The Pandemonium ” by H L McQuaid

Submitted to Contest #73

My fingers stumbled to find the mute button as Boris’s blue-streak of obscenities filled my small flat. Gazing intently at my clients on Zoom, I tried to discern whether they’d heard anything. Was that a repressed smirk on Cressida’s perfectly-lined lips?Despite Alex repeatedly assuring me that Boris could be subdued with a blanket over his cage, I could hear him screeching through the bedroom door. I walked in and yanked the blanket off, hoping to surprise him into silence. He stared at me sideways, one black beady eye boring into me. He cl...

11 comments 11
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“Five Dates” by Sophie Hoff

Submitted to Contest #73

The holidays are always full of shit. Lights that give you spots in your eyes and Santas in deflated suits begging you for money in the entrances of supermarkets. Love is pretty nice too, and to my surprise, I wound up getting five dates on Christmas Eve. The first was a complete douchebag, who sadly reminded me of me. Unshaven in the worst way possible, showed up to our coffee date in a sad pair of jeans and faded “I paused my game to be here” shirt. Scratch the thing about him being like me, he reminded me of a little brother. Or someone...

5 comments 5
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$50

Prize money

498

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 25, 2020 EST

Won by Shawn Forno 🏆

Title: Burt Brain

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

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Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

Join our weekly contest

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